What are the five main ways people acquire knowledge?
What is intuition in the context of acquiring knowledge?
Knowledge based on gut feelings or instincts; often biased and unreliable.
What does authority refer to in the methods of knowing?
Accepting information from authority figures; saves time but can be misleading.
Define rationalism as a method of knowing.
Using logic and reasoning to draw conclusions; reliant on correct premises.
What is empiricism?
Learning through observation and experience; limited by personal perspective.
How is the scientific method defined?
A systematic process of collecting and analyzing evidence through structured observation.
List the three fundamental features of science.
What does systematic empiricism entail?
Knowledge gained through carefully planned, recorded, and analyzed observations.
What type of questions does science address?
Empirical questions about what is observable and measurable.
Why is public knowledge important in science?
Research is shared through publication, allowing for evaluation and correction.
What distinguishes pseudoscience from science?
Lacks systematic evidence, may not be falsifiable, and often avoids public scrutiny.
Give common examples of pseudoscience.
What are the three goals of science?
What is basic research?
Aims to increase general knowledge without a direct practical goal.
What is applied research?
Aims to solve real-world problems.
What is a limitation of common sense in psychology?
Folk psychology often leads to inaccurate beliefs about behavior.
What does skepticism in science entail?
Questioning claims, considering alternatives, and seeking systematic evidence.
Who are experimental psychologists?
Holders of Ph.D. or master’s degrees focusing on research, not clinical practice.
What is the role of clinical psychologists?
To diagnose and treat mental/behavioral disorders.
What are Empirically Supported Treatments (ESTs)?
Treatments proven effective by research.
What is the first step in scientific research in psychology?
Formulate a research question.
What is a strong research question based on?
Creativity, persistence, and ordinary thinking strategies.
What is an operational definition?
Specifies how a variable is measured.
Differentiate between quantitative and categorical variables.